Off the wire
• Advisory: Schedules for NPC, CPPCC annual sessions -- March 8  • Weather forecast for world cities -- March 7  • Chinese leaders stress stabilizing economic growth  • Weather forecast for major Chinese cities, regions -- March 7  • 1st LD: Two suspects detained in relation to Boris Nemtsov's murder  • UN envoy welcomes ceasefire agreement in central Somalia  • French FM confirms citizen's death in Mali attack  • Iraqi forces push advance after seizing key town from IS  • Egypt carries out first execution against Morsi supporter  • Environmental minister warns of overlooking rural pollution  
You are here: 　 Home

Sudan says to benefit most from Ethiopia's renaissance dam

Xinhua, March 7, 2015 Adjust font size:

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir said on Saturday that his country is the greatest beneficiary from the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) through the electricity it will generate.

Bashir made the remarks while addressing a popular gathering in Blue Nile State on the border with Ethiopia as part of his electoral campaign for Sudan's general elections.

"The Blue Nile State is Sudan's gate to Ethiopia and South Sudan and we are working to establish free zones on the border with Ethiopia. Blue Nile State would benefit from the electricity to be produced by the GERD," Bashir noted in his speech aired live by Sudanese satellite TVs.

He went on saying that "electricity is the base of development. The electricity produced by Al-Rusaires dam would be allotted for Blue Nile State and if there is more need we will provide it from Merowe dam in northern Sudan as well as from the GERD."

On Friday, the foreign ministers of Sudan, Egypt and Ethiopia announced that they reached an agreement in principle on sharing the Nile waters, which would be submitted to the presidents of the three countries for final approval.

The Sudanese president further vowed to achieve peace and end the rebellion in Blue Nile State which has been witnessing armed clashes between the government troops and rebels of Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM)/northern sector since 2011.

"We promise to achieve peace and security in Blue Nile State, end the rebellion and provide the atmosphere for establishment of development projects in the state," he noted.

Bashir, candidate of the ruling National Congress Party, is touring a number of Sudanese cities as part of his electoral campaign for the upcoming general elections.

The Sudanese presidential elections, with the participation of 44 parties and 16 candidates, are scheduled to start in early April. Endit